Outboard sill pretensioner

Abstract

A multi-point seat belt system ( 20 ′) for protecting an occupant seated upon a vehicle seat, the system comprising: a shoulder belt ( 42 ) and a lap belt ( 44 ) securable, with some amount of slack, about the occupant, a seat belt buckle ( 48 ) attached to one end of the lap belt ( 44 ) at an inboard location and a belt tightener secured to an opposite end ( 44 b ) of the lap belt for eliminating any slack in the lap belt, the belt tightener located at an outboard location.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A multi-point seat belt system ( 20 ′) for use within a vehicle for protecting an occupant seated upon a vehicle seat, the system comprising: a lap belt ( 44 ) securable about the occupant with a determinable amount of slack, a seat belt buckle ( 48 ) operatively attachable to the lap belt ( 44 ) at an inboard location within the vehicle and pretensioning means secured to an end ( 44   b  ) of the lap belt for eliminating slack in the lap belt; 
       wherein the pretensioning means includes  
       a tube,  
       a piston movable within the tube, the piston and tube cooperating to provide a one-way clutch means for permitting movement of the piston in a belt tightening direction and restricting movement in an opposite direction,  
       a pyrotechnic element, which when activated produces products of combustion to propel the piston down the tube,  
       a cable connected to the piston and to the lap belt for pulling the lap belt tight,  
       a bracket ( 110 ) including an end wall ( 112   d ) and side walls ( 112   b,c ) defining an opening ( 114 ) through which the cable extends, another wall ( 112   a ) of the bracket ( 110 ) adjacent the pyrotechnic element including an integrally shaped pulley element ( 116 ) about which the cable extends.  
     
     
       2. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the buckle does not include an anti-g buckle. 
     
     
       3. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the system includes a shoulder belt. 
     
     
       4. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the lap belt is connected to the buckle via a latchable tongue. 
     
     
       5. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the pulley element ( 116 ) is formed as a tubular sector. 
     
     
       6. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the end wall is connectable to a mounting member. 
     
     
       7. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the pretensioning means is mountable proximate an outboard location within the vehicle. 
     
     
       8. The system as defined in claim  1  wherein the end of the lap belt includes a pocket and wherein the cable includes an end connected to a T-shaped connecting member received in the pocket of the lap belt. 
     
     
       9. The system as defined in claim  8  wherein the pocket is formed by two overlaying layers of lap belt material.